India Adds Middle East Oil Supply as Russian Imports Ease in September
Russian crude imports averaged about 1.75 million barrels per day, while total Indian crude imports reached 5.3 million barrels per day.
India’s crude imports drew about three million barrels per day from Middle Eastern suppliers in September, while Russian flows eased but remained the country’s largest single source through Sept. 27.
Russian crude imports averaged about 1.75 million barrels per day in September, down from approximately 2.1 million barrels per day in August. Through Sept. 27, Russian supplies were estimated at 1.742 million barrels per day.
Iraq supplied 579,000 barrels per day through that date, followed by Saudi Arabia at 570,000, the United Arab Emirates at 483,000 and Kuwait at 333,000. The figures show Russia remained ahead of each individual supplier even as Gulf deliveries regained ground.
India’s total crude imports averaged about 5.3 million barrels per day in September. That was approximately 600,000 barrels per day above August and 700,000 barrels per day higher than the year-earlier level.
The reported figures indicate that Middle Eastern purchases supplemented Russian crude rather than replacing it. The recovery in regional flows reflected higher supplies from Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, alongside improving crude movements through the Strait of Hormuz.
“Russia remains a central part of India’s crude import basket,” Sumit Ritolia said.
The war in Ukraine altered India’s sourcing map, with Russian barrels gaining a larger role as Western buyers reduced purchases from Moscow. India has also pursued a broader crude and petroleum procurement mix in response to supply risks in the Middle East.
The September figures show that India continued to rely on Russian crude even as refiners brought in substantial volumes from Gulf suppliers. The pattern adds to India’s continued reliance on Russian crude while showing a broader supply mix.
